Car sales rose for the seventh month in a row across Europe in March, with Britain recording a 17.7 per cent rise in new registrations.

The rise of 10.6 per cent year-on-year for the European Union meant 1,449,148 passenger cars were registered last month. However, the recovery came from a low base, and the numbers represent the second lowest March registrations since the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Associationbegan keeping figures in the enlarged EU in 2003.

“All major markets contributed positively to the overall expansion of the EU market,” a spokesman said.